WA State Auditor Announces:

The Washington State Auditor's Office published a report that identifies the volume and nature of public records requests state and local governments receive, and the costs they incur fulfilling them. Washington’s Public Records Act (PRA) guarantees the public broad access to government records to foster sound governance. Interactions with governments during this project showed their commitment to the principles of open, accessible and accountable government. However, a changing public records environment and a PRA that has not kept pace with present-day issues pose challenges that, if not addressed, may undermine the original intent of public records laws and hinder other essential government services.

They found that people today make more and increasingly complex requests for records, which absorbs significant government resources. The state and local governments that responded to the statewide survey reported spending more than $60 million to fulfill more than 285,000 public records requests in the most recent year alone. Requesters pay only a small portion of the costs (less than 1 percent) involved in fulfilling public records requests.

Their research showed that a combination of statewide policy changes and better information management and disclosure practices is needed to keep pace with changing times. They identified policies the Legislature can consider to address public records issues. They also identified practical solutions that can help state and local governments continue to improve their records management and disclosure processes.

The Washington State Auditor's office welcomes comments and suggestions for future reports. You will find this report and related materials here or at their website www.sao.wa.gov.